Pregnancy related rash?

Minor itch + scratching, and more scratching = red rash
Not just any ordinary rash, this one seemed to spread its itchiness the more it's scratched!
Only a little bit around the ankle and behind the knees for now. 

Let's fly away to a quiet island beach

Of all the things we're considering at this stage...

No longer overwhelmed by the sleepyness and tiredness of the first trimester, and with appetite and enthusiasm back, there's something we've got to do before we take a looooong break from it.... go off on a quiet holiday for two!

We found return Firefly flights to our favourite island for RM14 per person each way, and she found a great hotel deal on AA's website. With some checking, it seems the airline allows expectant mothers to fly without need for any medical letters up to 28 weeks, and thereafter with a letter from the doc. Good thing the special rates was right on the 27th week.

So it's the sound of the sea for the free passanger, and floating with the waves inside mummy! Now we just have to hope all's well between now and the trip.

Confinement lady, or no confinement lady?

Among all the things we've been working ahead of schedule for, something like this somehow got left behind. Options were kept open for a while, and just lingered.

After birth, do we spend the 1st month of rest in...
A. my mum's house where there will always be someone at home almost all the time, to attend to meals and baby?
B. her mum's house where there will also be someone at home almost all the time, to attend to meals and baby?
C. our place and get the traditional "confinement lady" in for one month of tending?

First, there was the more pressing need to decide if we'll deliver in PJ, or in Muar where her parents are.
Before we know it, we're at 5 months already, and realise we may be running out of options faster than we realise. Apparently getting a confinement lady is usually done within the first month of discovering a pregnancy as most reputable ones are usually all booked up fast.

Enough of contemplating - we'll go with the confinement lady option as both options A and B will likely put excessive strain on either our parents who may not be at their best to handle round-the-clock attention by then.

We were already late when we tried the two we were first recommended, but finally managed to get one who had to switch with another due to a slight mismatch of delivery timing of her previously booked client. Definitely a relief for now.

It's Mr. Tiger Chin!

....as opposed to Miss Tigress Chin, in the year of the Tiger.

No, we haven't chosen a name yet, and yes it's highly unlikely to be "Tiger". Seems quite active most of the time too. We've also been feeling his kicks and moves on our own, and sometimes it does feel like we're sending morse code messages both ways across the belly!

Second trimester

I was only away for 5 nights and suddenly the bulge has become so noticeable! Probably just a combination of a very full meal, some gas, and of course our growing newcomer. From 49kg a month ago to 50kg now, if it isn't extra body-fat, all that 1kg is probably just in one place.

At least we're past the perpetual sleepyness and tiredness of the first trimester now and appetite (of all sorts) has returned ;)

The ultrasound says it all

First trip on an airplane?

To go or not to go....

I don't think it feels any different while floating inside a well padded sac of liquid, but GF wasn't feeling too hopeful yesterday about her flight to Shanghai in the next few days. Traveling with a friend to visit a classmate now based in Shanghai seemed a great adventure half a year ago, especially with the World Expo on, and great low fare early discounts on flights.

With half a mind confident enough to be able to make it on an adventure like many other pregnant mothers who travel at every stage of pregnancy, GF maintained the booked ticket and hotel all the way. 3 weeks ago, after the discovery of our pregnancy, an unusual window opened too! A SMS came in with notification of a flight delay from morning flight to a night flight, which meant any unhappy customer can take the rare opportunity to call in and cancel their purchase with a full refund. She just moved it to the next day.

All through this time, still feeling unwell on and off, she seemed to be having some faith in feeling much better by the end of her first 3 months like what most people seemed to have experienced.

Today seemed alright, but yesterday wasn't very pleasant with occasional headaches and feeling of nausea which were both quite common in the past many weeks.

While home the last few evenings, I was faced with a cycle of considerations... questions asked of me but I know I'm not the one to answer.... "should I still go?".... "will I be well enough not to feel too tired half way through the day and hold the others back?"

I know she's been going through discouragement and advise on how she should be resting at home for the sake of our most precious. I know her decision not to just cancel everything from the start is a hidden confidence that many don't see of her, not even herself sometimes. Whatever it is, I stand by my interpretation of what I feel she wants. Her suitcase is being readied for packing.

I've flown a lot in my past, and I've seen many pregnant mothers fly. Although I've never been on a flight where a mother gives birth, there have been enough stories of these to instil confidence in the safety of flying pregnant. I know many of her "advisors" mean well, and would not want anything undesirable to happen, but if she's up for it. I am. At least she's giving herself the chance to be able to decide on the last day whether she gets out of bed for her flight or not. In the end, I'm still the driver and if she rolls in bed at 5am saying "I'm not going", I'll just fall back to sleep too.